Travel on all roads on Long Island and in New York City is banned as of 2:30 p.m. today, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.
Only authorized emergency vehicles, hazard vehicles and critical healthcare personnel will be permitted. A violation of the travel ban is punishable as misdemeanor that includes fines of up to $300.
The MTA is suspending LIRR service, Metro North service and above-ground subway service as of 4 p.m.
“Safety is our number one priority – and right now, it is not safe for the general public to travel,” Cuomo said in a press release issued at 1:26 p.m.
“Closing the roads and exterior rail roads and subways is the right thing to do in this situation, because it helps emergency personnel do their jobs and respond to the storm as aggressively as possible. We are doing everything necessary to keep people safe, and I encourage all New Yorkers to wait out the storm indoors.”
The governor signed an executive order authorizing the state to institute the travel ban on local and state roads.
Earlier this morning, Cuomo declared a state of emergency for New York City as well as Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam counties.
